AFS-13-422-E

July 24, 2013

 Exemption No. 10835 

 Regulatory Docket No. FAA-2007-0160

Mr. Matt Ziska

Senior Program Manager

AeroVironment, Inc.

900 Enchanted Way

Simi Valley, CA 93065

Dear Mr. Ziska:

This letter is to inform you that we have granted your request for exemption. It transmits our 

decision, explains its basis, and gives you the conditions and limitations of the exemption, 

including the date it ends.

The Basis for Our Decision

By letter dated June 6, 2013, you petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on 

behalf of AeroVironment, Inc. (AeroVironment) for an exemption from §§ 91.9(b) and 

91.203(a) and (b) of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) to the extent necessary 

to allow AeroVironment to operate its unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that do not carry and 

display the aircraft’s airworthiness, certification, and registration documents required in 

part 91. That exemption, however, expired on November 30, 2011; therefore, we will treat 

your request as a new petition.

The FAA has determined that good cause exists for not publishing a summary of the petition 

in the Federal Register because the requested exemption would not set a precedent, and any 

delay in acting on this petition would be detrimental to AeroVironment.

The FAA has issued a grant of exemption in circumstances similar in all material respects to 

those presented in your petition. In Grant of Exemption No. 9564 (copy enclosed), the FAA 

found that it is unnecessary to carry and display the airworthiness, certification, and

registration documents in UASs for the operations described by the petitioner. The original
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intent of the subject regulation was to display the airworthiness and registration documents so

they would be easily available to FAA inspectors and passengers.

Having reviewed your reasons for requesting an exemption, I find that—

• they are similar in all material respects to relief previously requested in the enclosed Grant 

of Exemption No. 9564;

• the reasons stated by the FAA for granting the enclosed Grant of Exemption No. 9564 

also apply to the situation you present; and 

• a grant of exemption is in the public interest.

Our Decision

Under the authority contained in 49 U.S.C. 40113 and 44701, which the FAA Administrator 

has delegated to me, I hereby grant AeroVironment, Inc. an exemption from 14 CFR 

§§ 91.9(b) and 91.203(a) and (b) to the extent necessary to allow AeroVironment to operate 

its unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) that do not carry and display the aircraft’s airworthiness, 

certification, and registration documents required in part 91, subject to the conditions and 

limitations described below.

Conditions and Limitations

1. The documents required under §§ 91.9 and 91.203 must be available to the pilot in 

command of the UAS any time the aircraft is operating. 

2. Those documents required under §§ 91.9 or 91.203 must be made available within

10 days to any FAA, U.S. Department of Defense, or law enforcement official upon 

request.

The exemption terminates on November 30, 2015 unless sooner superseded or rescinded. 

Sincerely,

/s/

Michael J. Zenkovich

Acting Deputy Director, Flight Standards

 Service

Enclosure